At the Rural Development Resource Center we know that one of the major challenges for rural businesses to succeed is capturing a market outside of the local area.

The Institutional Food Survey
Ag businesses wanting to identify ready markets in order to niche themselves and plan for production to these pre-targeted markets can now utilize data from the Southwest Iowa Institutional Food Survey. Technical assistance with pre and post harvest issues is also available. Contact the office.

Buy Iowa Online
A Web site presence can be an essential element of marketing plan for retailers. The cost in money and time to develop, maintain, advertise the site and fulfill orders can be prohibitive for many businesses with a limited employee base. Businesses currently doing buinesses on line may also see increased sales with a second presence focused on branding southwest Iowa products.

Buy Iowa Online is now available for entrepreneurs within the 22-county service area of the RDRC. For more about how to sell your products go to www.buyiowaonline.com.There are no membership or upfront costs to participate. Nonprofits with fundraising items for sale that are made in southwest Iowa or have a community theme are also encouraged to participate.

The RDRC will handle the sales from purchase to delivery and dissemenate payment to each seller on a bi-monthly cycle. 10% of each sale will be collected to maintain and sustain the site and its advertising.

Buy Iowa Online will serve entrepreneurs - full-time, part-time and occasional - including:

• artisans and handcrafters,
• authors,
• musicians,
• small manufacturers,
• community non-profits,
• food processors packaging nonperishables things as sauces, soups, gourmet vinegars, honey and herbs.